THERE IS speculation that Fine Gael may approach former GAA president Seán Kelly to run for the party in the South constituency in next year's European parliament elections.
Despite a high work rate, serving MEP Colm Burke is seen as a potentially weak vote-getter, while some of the party's high-profile Munster TDs are believed to be not interested in a European career.
"All things being equal, Kelly would be a strong candidate, given the huge profile he secured as GAA president," a Fine Gael source said.
Cork-based Mr Burke, a solicitor, replaced Simon Coveney in the parliament when the Cork South Central TD returned to national politics in last year's general election.
Mr Burke was a member of Cork City Council from 1995 to last year, serving as lord mayor in 2003. However, he is a relative unknown elsewhere.
Mr Kelly, a native of Co Kerry, is related to Fionnuala Kelly, wife of Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
He was previously mentioned as a possible Dáil candidate when Fine Gael sought to revive its fortunes in the Kerry South constituency where it was without a TD.
It did not happen when it became clear that Mr Kelly would have to be imposed by party headquarters.
County councillor Tom Sheahan won a seat for the party in the constituency at the last election.
After he stood down as GAA president, Mr Kelly was appointed executive chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport.
Mr Burke and Fine Gael will, no doubt, be aware of the example of North West Fianna Fáil MEP Seán Ó Neachtáin who successfully resisted attempts by Fianna Fáil headquarters to move him off the electoral pitch in the 2004 European elections.
Mr Ó Neachtáin was a replacement for Minister of State Pat "the Cope" Gallagher when he returned to national politics in the 2002 general election.
As a member of Galway County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta, Mr Ó Neachtáin had contact with the Fianna Fáil grassroots in the region and consolidated his base when he took over as an MEP.
With Mr Coveney the candidate last time, Fine Gael's first-preference vote increased from 17.27 per cent to 24.56 per cent, while Fianna Fáil's vote declined from 52.9 per cent to 41.02 per cent.
Mr Coveney secured 118,937 first preferences, trailing Fianna Fáil poll-topper Brian Crowley who had 125,539.
Mr Crowley and the other MEP for the South constituency, Independent Kathy Sinnott, are also from Cork.
